In The News

Advanced Construction Robotics (ACR), the leader in construction robotics innovation, is proud to announce it will deliver one of two TyBOT® units to D.T. Read Steel Co., Inc. (D.T. Read) in early December. TyBOT is deployed on the I-26/I-95 Interchange Improvement Project in Harleyville, South Carolina, supporting D.T. Read’s ongoing efforts to enhance productivity, safety, and efficiency on high-volume rebar installation projects. D.T. Read’s second TyBOT will be delivered by the end of 2025.

D.T. Read’s investment follows extensive hands-on experience using TyBOT across several major infrastructure projects, including the NASA Causeway Bridge Replacement in Titusville, Florida. On that project, TyBOT completed 139,261 ties, performing 50% of both the top and bottom mats on a significant portion of the 171,733-square-foot deck. Additionally, the jobsite required debris-free work areas, making cleanliness a top priority. TyBOT helped D.T. Read meet these requirements by significantly reducing tie-wire waste, eliminating the need for extensive cleanup. As a result, the company saved 1-2 full days that would have otherwise been spent clearing debris from traditional rebar tying methods.

By expanding their use of TyBOT, D.T. Read continues its legacy of partnering with ACR, bringing innovation to the field and elevating expectations for performance in the rebar installation industry.

“D.T. Read has consistently demonstrated strong leadership in adopting technologies that improve performance on the jobsite,” said Stephen Muck, Founder & CEO of Advanced Construction Robotics. “Their experience with TyBOT has shown the real-world value of automation, and we’re excited to continue supporting their team as they integrate robotics to boost productivity, enhance safety, and strengthen their competitive profitability edge.”

By adding TyBOT to its operations, D.T. Read continues to advance its longstanding commitment to innovation and operational excellence. Their adoption of robotic solutions represents a growing industry movement toward integrating automation as a standard tool for delivering safer, faster, and higher-quality results.

“Our team has seen how TyBOT can transform the way we work—improving speed, consistency, and safety on demanding projects,” said Chris Lewis, Vice President of D.T. Read Steel Co., Inc. “Adding these units allows us to expand our capacity and give our crews another tool of the trade that helps them perform their best. We are eagerly anticipating the release of ACR’s next commercial robot, IronBOT®, and we are confident it will further enhance our productivity and streamline our operations.”

As more contractors recognize the value of robotics, ACR remains committed to advancing construction automation with jobsite-ready technology that strengthens project delivery across the nation.

Advanced Construction Robotics (ACR), an industry leader in construction robotics and technology, is proud to announce its selection as a finalist for the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s Tech50 Awards in the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning/Robotics category. This annual recognition celebrates the top companies in the Pittsburgh region, driving innovation and shaping the future of their respective industries. ACR's recognition as a finalist reinforces its role as a trailblazer in the construction industry, showcasing the company's ongoing development of robotic solutions, including TyBOT®, a rebar-tying robot, and IronBOT®, a rebar lifting, carrying, and placing robot that enhances safety, productivity, and project efficiency.

“Being recognized by the Pittsburgh Technology Council reflects our mission to advance construction through innovation,” said Stephen Muck, Founder and Executive Chairman of Advanced Construction Robotics. “Our team is passionate about developing technologies from concept to commercialization that make a real impact in the field, and this acknowledgment further motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of what robotics can achieve in construction.”

Since its founding, ACR has been driven by a team of construction and robotics experts committed to advancing the future of construction through innovation. What sets ACR apart is its unique ability to access real job sites, allowing the team to test and refine their robotic solutions in real-world conditions. This hands-on approach enables ACR to create groundbreaking automation technologies that tackle the dull, dirty, and dangerous jobs in construction and rapidly respond to unforeseen challenges. Recently, ACR announced that TyBOT is now available for purchase, marking a pivotal shift from its previous Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. This shift from a RaaS to owning the equipment is unique in the B2B robotics industry. By focusing on practical, impactful innovations, ACR has become a leader in the construction technology space, known for introducing autonomous tools of the trade that are transforming the industry and improving safety and quality.

"We are honored to be named a finalist for the Tech50 Awards," said Danielle Proctor, President and CEO of Advanced Construction Robotics. "This recognition is a testament to our team's hard work and dedication to redefining what's possible in construction. The traction we have seen with the shift to commercialization is huge. We believe our products and business intelligence are redefining the industry while providing new job creation and retention opportunities."

The Pittsburgh Technology Council will announce the Tech50 Awards winners at their annual event on November 14, 2024.

Advanced Construction Robotics has announced that it is now offering its rebar-tying robot through direct sales in addition to ongoing service arrangements. Training on operating the rebar-tying robot is included in the sale price, as well as future software updates and access to an online portal to track its usage and productivity. Other options include other modes of travel for non-bridge projects and a new carry function for transporting materials around the jobsite.

Read more by Jeff Rubenstone on Engineering News-Record:

https://www.enr.com/articles/59256-rebar-tying-robot-now-available-for-direct-purchase-as-robotics-firm-sees-industry-acceptance

Advanced Construction Robotics (ACR), the leader in robotics technology and innovation for the construction industry, is pleased to announce that the third generation of its revolutionary product, TyBOT 3.0, is available for purchase. TyBOT, which previously has only been available through ACR’s Robot as a Service (RaaS) model, can be ordered now for Q1 2025 delivery.

"Our success in the pursuit of automating construction equipment is not just an evolution for ACR; it is a transformative step for the entire construction industry,” said Stephen Muck, Founder and Executive Chairman of ACR. “Offering TyBOT for sale represents our commitment to creating disruptive solutions that will redefine how the world builds, driving unprecedented efficiency, safety, and innovation across a wider range of construction applications."

Sporting a wide array of productivity and reliability enhancements, a TyBOT 3.0 capable of up to 64’ widths starts at $425,500. Fully configured to expand as wide as 117’, it sells for $455,500. The sticker price includes comprehensive training by ACR to ensure customers can confidently mobilize, configure, supervise, and maintain TyBOT from day one. ACR’s Service Platform Subscription gives customers access to a live data portal which provides unprecedented insight into their rebar installation operations as well as continued access to the latest software features from ACR’s world-class engineering team. TyBOT 3.0 also has optional accessories to further expand its cost-saving capabilities, including multiple modes of travel for non-bridge projects and a carry function add-on to transport materials efficiently and safely to working crew members.

"With over 65 field deployments nationwide, TyBOT has proven that it provides customers at least 25% savings in their installation operations and is quickly becoming an accepted tool of the trade by rodbusters," said Danielle Proctor, President and CEO of ACR. "We’ve seen a tremendous increase in demand for TyBOT as well as our second product, IronBOT®, the Rebar Placing Robot. Our continued planned evolution from product design and adoption through RaaS to offering our BOTs for purchase reflects our confidence in our team’s ability to quickly provide mature products that reliably solve real-world problems. We look forward to customers fully integrating our solutions into their operations, providing enhanced productivity and safety using modern tools for a modern workforce.”

Geoffrey White joins Grouse Ridge Capital as Chief Innovation Officer & General Counsel. He will also be serving Advanced Construction Robotics, a Grouse Ridge Capital company. In these roles, he will drive an innovation culture that aligns with intellectual property (IP) strategy to help foster growth and adoption of the countless new technologies being developed within companies connected to Grouse Ridge Capital. He will also assist in identifying and evaluating pre-seed investment opportunities in the $250K to $5M range.

Geoff has been named to IAM Strategy 300: The Worlds Leading IP Strategists multiple times, has spoken in countless venues worldwide on various aspects of value-focused IP strategy (including an upcoming presentation in September in Italy on research with the University of Cambridge, Institute for Manufacturing), and volunteers as an advisor for the Penn State Start-Up Leadership Network and a mentor for the University of Cambridge EnterpriseTech. He volunteers his time to a variety of other organizations, such as, being Board President for Keystone State Musical Theater and Assistant Director for the Pitt Band.

Geoff is involved in a wide variety of disciplines, with a balance between his role as an attorney, an IP strategist, and a manufacturing executive. Geoffrey has a true passion for value-enhancement of patents, with a focus on supporting organizational strategies, whether they be revenue production, licensing, enforcement, or business model innovation. In these roles, he applies his experience and his education, which include an MBA from Cambridge, an IP LLM from George Washington, a JD from Widener, and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh.

He brings experience as General Counsel, Chief IP Counsel, and a Director for SilcoTek Corporation, a high-tech materials science company in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. In those roles, he established an intellectual property strategy supporting adoption of their technology for applications throughout the world (as well as in space and other planets). Geoff also practiced as an attorney for McNees Wallace & Nurick, handling matters for startups through multi-billion dollar organizations.

With Geoff’s involvement, expect Grouse Ridge Capital and Advanced Construction Robotics to continue to drive expanded innovation efforts in the near future. Follow us on LinkedIn, if you want to see the release of such innovation.

Today, economic development leaders Audrey Russo, President & CEO, and Brian Kennedy, Senior Vice President, Operations and Government Affairs, both from Pittsburgh Technology Council, Rich Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, and John Myler, Assistant Construction Manager with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, joined Western Pennsylvania political leaders Senator Lindsey Williams and Representative Robert Mercuri, along with Patrick Joyal, Southwest Region Director, from the Office of Governor Josh Shapiro, met at Advanced Construction Robotics (ACR), to learn more about the cutting-edge robotics technology developed in Pittsburgh, and currently being deployed throughout the United States of America.

"On our tour, we saw literal change in action and how investments in advanced technology create local jobs," said Rich Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. "We are fortunate to have a thriving robotics industry in our region, and our goal is to support organizations, like Advanced Construction Robotics, as it strives to develop talent and grow its workforce. We want to foster an economic environment in Southwestern Pennsylvania where residents that want to work in the robotics industry have the opportunity to do so."

ACR’s technology addresses labor shortages and infrastructure demands by supplementing labor to reduce infrastructure costs and improve quality while reducing worker injuries. This new technology is exactly what the Governor’s economic development plan targets when discussing new technology impacting infrastructure markets. The ACR Team has developed two robots: TyBOT®, which ties rebar intersections on bridge decks, and IronBOT®, which carries and places rebar—both labor-intense and physically demanding jobs. ACR is actively working with the local Ironworkers Employers Association (IWEA) and the International Ironworkers to train their Ironworkers on using these tools of the trade to enhance productivity and safety on jobsites.

State Representative, Robert Mercuri, commented, “I was very impressed with the innovative technology employed by Advanced Construction Robotics in their rebar applications. This technology can be utilized across the economy in future applications and current projects to accelerate project time completion, build new job categories for Building Trades professionals and support worker safety, and overall productivity. I’m looking forward to seeing their technology support growth across the Commonwealth.”

The company was founded by Stephen Muck, Chairman and CEO of Brayman Construction Corporation, a leading infrastructure contractor, who had a vision five years ago to improve the productivity of the labor force and the quality of infrastructure products while accelerating their delivery while reducing the impact to the traveling public.

Mr. Muck said, “This vision is becoming a reality, and contractors, along with the Ironworkers Union, are using the products to do exactly what we had hoped when we founded ACR.”

Today, the group had the opportunity to watch a physical demonstration of TyBOT at the company’s headquarters in Allison Park, PA, and watched a video of IronBOT placing rebar on a project in Port St. Lucie, FL. Danielle Proctor, President and CEO of ACR, said, “When we combine IronBOT and TyBOT on a job site, the productivity cost and schedule savings are truly disruptive. We are looking forward to working with these agencies on creating future positions, such as the Robot SupervisorTM, and expanding the workforce in robotics outside of traditional engineering roles.”

ACR is actively discussing creating a workforce development program with the Pittsburgh Technology Council, the Pittsburgh Robotics Network, and the Southwestern PA Commission. Mr. Muck is hoping Governor Shapiro’s program will support ACR as they move from product development and the Robots as a Service (RaaS) model to full-scale manufacturing and sales of their products. ACR is currently in discussions with two major corporations interested in accelerating the products to market. Mr. Muck hopes PA will step up in a way that will keep manufacturing these highly technical robotic solutions in Western PA. She stated that she is excited these agencies and forward-thinking political leaders took the time to learn more about ACR and robotic solutions for infrastructure.

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About Pittsburgh Technology Council: Representing the aggregate voice of more than 1,400 member companies, the Pittsburgh Technology Council employs an experienced government relations team that works to educate individual technology forms about government-related threats and opportunities, while also working to promote a pro-growth public policy agenda on behalf of the entire region’s technology industry.

Pittsburgh, PA: Advanced Construction Robotics (ACR), a leading innovator in robotic construction solutions, worked with New England Infrastructure (NEI) on the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) bridge rehabilitation project on Ramp B-D (Exit 2) over Bluestar Turnpike. NEI deployed TyBOT to the project on June 29, marking its first time working with the technology. TyBOT completed 5,369 intersections in just seven hours. Since 2018, TyBOT has won several innovation awards and completed over 3.5 million ties on 48 projects in 12 states. TyBOT’s first-ever field deployment also took place in New Hampshire alongside R.S. Audley in 2018.

"We are excited to wrap up a successful project with a new contractor, New England Infrastructure, and we appreciate their enthusiasm and trust in our technology.   We look forward to exploring larger projects together with NEI," said Danielle Proctor, President and CEO of Advanced Construction Robotics. “Returning to the state where we deployed TyBOT for the first time was a nostalgic experience. We have come a long way since then,” she added.

The NHDOT bridge rehabilitation project on Ramp B-D (Exit 2) over Bluestar Turnpike is a critical infrastructure initiative aimed at ensuring the longevity and safety of the region's transportation network.

"New England Infrastructure is committed to exploring advanced technologies that enhance project outcomes while prioritizing safety," stated Todd Pietrasiak, President and Owner of NEI. "TyBOT performed well on this small project, and we are interested to see what it can do on larger projects."  

The collaboration between ACR and New England Infrastructure highlights the industry's transition towards modern construction practices. As more crews embrace advanced technologies like TyBOT, construction projects can be completed more efficiently and safely.

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About Advanced Construction Robotics, Inc.:

A leading provider of robotic equipment, ACR is transforming the construction industry by filling the skilled labor gap and increasing overall productivity. Our robots give construction firms the ability to consistently meet growing demand, reduce scheduling risks and improve safety. ACR currently offers two unique rebar installation robots that, together, cut rebar installation schedules in half. ACR’s first product, TyBOT, is a rebar-tying robot that has been serving the industry since 2018. IronBOT, ACR’s latest product, will lift, carry, and place 5,000LB bundles of transverse or longitudinal rebar.

About New England Infrastructure, Inc.:

New England Infrastructure, Inc. has a long and proud history as a leader in the New England construction industry. They are a multi-disciplined heavy/civil contractor specializing in providing engineered solutions to complex projects of all sizes. Their expert team of qualified management and skilled craftsmen are present at every job site, ensuring that all work is done on time, on budget, to specification, and up to par with each client’s expectations.

Advanced Construction Robotics (ACR), a leading innovator in construction robotics, is proud to announce that it has been named one of the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards recipients for 2024, presented by The Robot Report. This recognition highlights ACR's commitment to innovating infrastructure through robotics, marking a significant milestone in the company's journey towards transforming the construction industry with innovative, automated solutions.  

"Receiving the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award highlights our disruptive solutions to reinforcing rebar installation," said Stephen M. Muck, Founder and Executive Chairman of Advanced Construction Robotics. "This award endorses our technology and its impact on the construction industry to enhance the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of infrastructure projects.”

For over a decade, the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards have celebrated the robotics industry's most influential and innovative companies. ACR's inclusion in this list highlights the company's exceptional contributions to the field, especially in developing groundbreaking technologies that address critical challenges in construction.  

Steve Crowe, Executive Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media, commented on the awards, stating, "The incredible work of this year's RBR50 winners represents the cutting edge of robotics and raises the bar for the industry. We look forward to celebrating all of the innovators at the inaugural RBR50 Gala (May 1, 2024) during the Robotics Summit & Expo."  

ACR's recognition in the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards is a testament to its team's hard work, dedication, and creativity. It reflects the company's ongoing efforts to advance the state of robotics in construction and foster a safer, more efficient, and more productive industry.  

"We are deeply honored to be a recipient of the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards," said Danielle Proctor, President and CEO of Advanced Construction Robotics. “This award reflects our team's relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in robotics to enhance the construction industry's capabilities, improve safety, and increase efficiency on project sites worldwide."  

ACR is positioned to continue its trajectory of making construction robotics a commercial reality, with plans to expand its offerings further and explore new applications of robotics in construction. This award recognizes ACR's past achievements and inspires future endeavors in robotics innovation.

The Pittsburgh Robotics Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering innovation and growth for the southwest Pennsylvania region’s robotics cluster, yesterday announced changes to its board of directors and executive officers. Jorgen Pedersen has stepped in as the new board president, and Stephen Muck is now secretary.

To read the full article go to https://www.therobotreport.com/pittsburgh-robotics-network-welcomes-new-board-members/

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Cirtronics will exhibit and host a dynamic panel on successful robotics commercialization at the Robotics Summit and Expo on May 1st and 2nd at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Attend the Cirtronics-sponsored panel discussion "Paving the Road to Success in Robotics Commercialization" on May 1st at 11:30 am in Room 257B and listen as industry leaders share crucial insights and experiences in overcoming obstacles, scaling operations, and bringing innovative ideas to market successfully.

The panel features leaders Jennifer Apicella, Executive Director of Pittsburgh Robotics Network, Brandon Contino, Co-founder & CEO of Four Growers, and Stephen M. Muck, Founder & Executive Chairman of Advanced Construction Robotics and Chairman & CEO of Brayman Construction Corporation. The panel will be moderated by the Chair of Cirtronics’ Board of Directors, Andy McMillan.

Tom Ferrin, Cirtronics’ CRO, emphasizes, "In the fast-evolving robotics industry, practical

advice rooted in real-world experiences is crucial for achieving commercialization success. Our customers highlight navigating regulatory hurdles, ensuring compliance, and forming partnerships as vital considerations in this rigorous field. That's why we assemble panels with industry experts to share best practices. Our diverse panelists from agriculture, construction, and entrepreneurship backgrounds will reveal their proven pathways to success, offering valuable insights on aligning visions with reality."

Cirtronics invites you to this insightful panel discussion and to visit Booth #206 to discuss your commercialization needs. For more information about Cirtronics, visit their website.

About Cirtronics

Located in the Greater Boston area, Cirtronics specializes in manufacturing complex systems for highly regulated markets such as robotics, medical, security, defense, and industrial. Thriving on exacting standards and attention to detail, Cirtronics delivers tailored services through Precision Engagement®, encompassing manufacturing readiness, strategic sourcing, full-scale manufacturing, testing, and fulfillment of electromechanical or mechanical systems, sub-assemblies, and boards. As an ISO 9001 and 13485 Certified, FDA and ITAR Registered, and employee-owned business, Cirtronics ensures excellence in every aspect of its operations. Learn more at www.cirtronics.com.